Study Identifies Top Six Factors Predicting Heart Attack Risk

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. One in every three deaths in the US is attributed to cardiovascular disease, claiming the lives of about one million Americans every year.

This year alone, 920,000 Americans will have a heart attack, and nearly half will occur suddenly and without warning. Remember the most common symptom of heart disease is actually sudden death.

A heart attack occurs when part of your heart muscle begins to die, and even if you survive, the resulting scarring can cause severe health problems down the road, such as increased risk for sudden cardiac arrest. How much of your cardiac risk is under your control? Quite a bit, according to the latest studies.

Six Choices That Can Make or Break Your Heart:

According to new research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, young women who follow six lifestyle guidelines can all but “heart attack-proof” themselves.

The study, which followed nurses over the course of two decades, starting around age 37, identified the six lifestyle factors of greatest impact on heart health.

Women who adhered to all six guidelines lowered their heart disease risk by 92%.

Based on that, researchers estimated that more than 70% of heart attacks could be prevented by implementing the following:

1. Healthy diet
2. Normal BMI (Although I believe that body fat % is actually more accurate.)
3. Getting at least 2.5 hours of exercise each week
4. Watching television seven or fewer hours per week
5. Not smoking
6. Limiting alcohol intake to one drink or less per day

Do you have anything to add to the list?

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